Now Hang Me Up To Dry

Saturday night was a busy night in downtown Minneapolis. From sold-out shows at both First Avenue and the 7th Street Entry to the Timberwolves Game at Target Center- it was a bit chaotic downtown when I got there, but I loved it. I love Minneapolis so much, but downtown can feel a bit more like a ghost town than a bustling metropolis most of the time. It was nice to get out of my car and be greeted by the feeling of living in a big city for the first time in a hot minute. I was all smiles as I walked into First Avenue for the show, and as the show started, that smile only grew (which I honestly didn’t know was possible).

Opening the sold-out First Avenue mainroom show was Joe P The pandemic ruined many things for many people. In the case of Joe P, the pandemic brought the end of his band, which he had been in since the eighth grade. This had to have been devastating for Joe, but instead of dwelling on it, he turned around and came out as a solo artist. I’ll be honest, I don’t know anything about the band he was in, but I can say with complete certainty that Joe P. is more than sufficient at being a solo act, and his set on Saturday night proved that.

Joe’s sound is pretty standard indie-rock, but there’s something about him that sets him apart from the rest in the oversaturated scene, and that something is his heart. Whether he was singing or playing his guitar, everything was done with an undeniable sense of passion. On top of that, there was also a sense of dedicated talent. Although it was clear that Joe and his fantastic band were having a great time on stage as they played through their set, there was also a sense of pure perfection with every note and every beat. Joe P may not be a household name yet, but he’s on his way there, and his set on Saturday night was proof of that.

Joe P was a stunning opener, but he was not the reason for the packed-to-the-brim venue. The reason for that was to celebrate twenty years of Cold War Kids. The band admitted that it hadn’t been twenty years exactly, but the fact that they have been playing music together for at least twenty years is a feat, and, regardless of whether they are a couple of days off from that count, it’s worth celebrating.

Hailing from Long Beach, California, Cold War Kids is one of those bands that, even if you don’t think you know their name, you absolutely know their music. The band is truly a hit machine, and it was when they kicked into their set on Saturday night that I realized the depth of that. It was song after song of catchy choruses and heart-filled verses that I had heard many times before without realizing it was this band. They are a bit of a chameleon-type band where, although their sound is distinct and perfect, it’s a sound that blends into the indie-rock scene so well, and you just kind of get used to hearing it. With that being said, seeing their power through these familiar yet slightly unknown songs was a thrill for me.

Instead of just focusing on the nostalgic songs that have carried this band through the past twenty songs, I loved the way the band used the performance on Saturday night as a platform to promote their new self-titled album. Don’t get me wrong, we all got to hear the hits, including a triumphant performance of “Hang Me Up To Dry,” which left me genuinely speechless. Still, it was just so cool to hear what this band has been up to lately, especially as someone who doesn’t follow everything this band does (which is admittedly a mistake).

Beyond the music, the audience was given a little insight into the personalities behind this band. Vocalist Nathan Willett addressed everyone just a couple of songs in, “We love this club and are here for a reason!”. This got a massive roar of applause from the audience and agreeing nods from the rest of the band. Nathan went on to bring up the fact that they don’t have a star on the iconic walls of the venue (if you didn’t know, First Avenue is a black building with silver stars painted all over the outside with names of some of the acts who have played and sold-out the club multiple times). “This is all in good fun!” he joked, “But really, what do we have to do to get a star?”. I honestly don’t know what the rules are to getting a star on the walls, but I can tell you that after the power and passion that Cold War Kids brought to the legendary stage on Saturday night, they should at least be in the running for one of those stars.